Hindsight

I'm really lacking knowledge when it comes to soundcards so I thought I'd ask around in here..... I'm just using the crap integrated realtek right now. It's beyond awful. When connected to desktop speakers it's just tolerable, but lately I have been playing games using a nice set of large headphones and the buzzing/humming/static noises I hear are loud enough to give me a headache and make me stop playing after just 5 mins or so. It's unbearable.

I don't have any sort of surround sound setup, nor will I in the near future. I mainly just use desktop speakers and now am using the headphones more and more. I watch movies on the computer, play a lot of games, and listen to music. Do most new games support 5.1/7.1 and if so, am I going to even benefit from that while listening on a set of headphones? I don't see how I could.

I'm mainly just interested in nice, clean sound with no static/buzzing/popping/etc. I'm willing to spend up to ~$150 but would prefer closer to $100. I would also like it to have a two-pin SPDIF connector that would allow me to connect it to my GTX260 video card so I can get sound out of the DVI connector. If it doesn't have a two-pin SPDIF connector, that's fine, but it would need to have some kind of connector that I could get an adapter to convert to 2-pin SPDIF so I could still connect to the video card.

Thanks in advance!

__________________
Folding Stats

Juggalo23451

Asus Xonar is a god card to get.
Not sure if the have the connections you want though.
If I got a sound card I would hook it up to a surround system.
Most games or use 5.1 I like cuase you can pin point some what where/what direction the enemy is coming from.

__________________
Water Cooled Case suggestions
Cosmos S w/Classified water cooled(1st) w/ heatkiller and feser 360 rad
NZXT Tempest mod log(360 installed) (Fiance Build)
Heatkiller Club
NZXT Tempest User Community
Xbox 360 mods thread
http://www.overclock.net/xbox/435678...dders-out.html

doat

If you have a sound card but no surround sound speakers like 5.1 or 7.1 then the sound card is just useless.

__________________

Window Mod

OCN Forza 3 Club

We Are Gr33n Machine

Regel

As far as I know, a DVI connection never carries sound, that's the main difference between HDMI and DVI. HDMI is basically DVI but with sound.

__________________

We Are Gr33n Machine

tUDJ

What?

No it's not. If you have a good pair of speakers a soundcard will make a big difference.

__________________

Audio Rig:
X-Fi Xtreme Music / Minidisk deck as DAC
HD600
Millet Hybrid MiniMAX

OCN Speaker Club ≡ OCN Headphones Club ≡ OCN's Audio Rigs ≡ OCN CD Exchange ≡ Head-Fi Meet Impressions

Bizong

i don't understand this statement? plenty of people use headphones or 2.1 speakers with a good high quality soundcard.

__________________

Hindsight

Thanks for the replies all. As for a sound card being useless without surround speakers.... through the headphones is there going to be any difference in direction perception? Also, even if I can't experience surround through the headphones, remember, the primary reason I'm getting a nice soundcard is for CLEANER audio.

Also, RE DVI and sound, it has to have sound because I use a DVI to HDMI converter and connect that to my TV.... the sound goes through it just great so long as I have the SPDIF connector connected from the onboard audio connector of my MB to my video card.

__________________
Folding Stats

kpo6969

http://us.outletstore.creative.com/S...B002A3MWQ0.htm

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16829102006

doat

Well what is the point in a surround sound card that is suppose to be utilized with 5.1+ surround sound speakers when you only have 2 speakers or use headphones? I have a sound card as well but i don't use it for three reasons, one it blocks air flow to my video card fan, two i mostly use headphones, and three my onboard audio is HD and 8 channel so the sound quality between that and my sound car is not noticeable.

__________________

Window Mod

OCN Forza 3 Club

We Are Gr33n Machine

tUDJ

A soundcard isn't all about the extra channels, I could say the same about onboard, why use a soundcard when onboard does 5.1?

A soundcard uses much better compenents than onboard sound chips and offers much better sound quality.

Lots of people can tell a difference between onboard sound and their soundcard, especially those who spend a fair amount on headphones/speakers.

I don't understand what you mean when you say your onboard is HD?

__________________

Audio Rig:
X-Fi Xtreme Music / Minidisk deck as DAC
HD600
Millet Hybrid MiniMAX

OCN Speaker Club ≡ OCN Headphones Club ≡ OCN's Audio Rigs ≡ OCN CD Exchange ≡ Head-Fi Meet Impressions